Sunday Ill and Home

I managed to start my Sunday feeling OK, but my nose was running, and I sneezed often. It felt like Spring-Summer in Oregon without the rain, which gets the pollen out of the air. With this many pine trees, the rain helps! But no rain for days and warm days, my eyes are burning, and my tissue use is way up. I am starting to place tissue boxes all over the house. More will be needed!

Sunday means church, and I fill in as an usher when I am there. Though I am not traveling as much as last year, I am out about one out of four Sundays and often miss two or three in a row. I rise around 7 and start writing the blog, having to make coffee as I push through a story of a busy Saturday. I text and talk to Deborah as I get going. We always enjoy starting or ending one of our days together.

The coughing and sneezing were worse, and I considered passing on church and resting, but decided to push on. I surprised myself by finishing the 1000+ word blog without mangling too many of my words with Grammarly. We have found a way to stop breaking each other’s updates. I assume that I am writing more complete and correct sentences, and the coders and data scientists at Grammarly have analyzed all the flow data and updated their product. It seems better. The constent offers to incorrectly update a whole paragraph that simplifies the meaning and drops the style and skill are gone. Or I have been beaten into submission and now writing differently…I suspect they improved.

My memory of the church service was a blur as I ushered. I was busy helping here and there and whispering to some folks in the back as the service went on. I tried to stand in the back with the doors open so I could see the hallways and the entranceway. I watched folks who got up in the service, always looking for an emergency. Often, an emergency starts with someone getting up in the service.

Michael R delivered the sermon. His delivery shows that he is still more comfortable with the written word than presenting, something I understand. It isn’t easy for some of us. From what I can distill from what I saw when I was not ushering, his message was that the church is a family, and we won’t leave you alone. We Methodists will ensure you are well and safe, like a friendly but slightly annoying relative. Michael R suggests we are never invisible or unseen. It is the same way he imagines with God. God cares for us, and will always be there, even when it is annoying.

In joys and concerns, I mentioned that I was now a year from brain surgery  (May 20, 2024) and was happy to be here  (and not having a memorial a year after my passing!) and asked for prayers for those facing grief, cancer, or major medical issues (like brain tumors). Happy to be here!

Jack was handling locking up, which allowed me to head out and go home. The sneezing and coughing were worse. Also, details best not be shared; my colon decided to empty over and over. I was grounded and had one moment that required a shower but not a clean-up. Nothing like that with coughing and sneezing to convince you it might be the flu. I stopped.

I did get my 3D printing off the printer, but I broke the star I printed because it was more fragile than the supports. Ugh! I put it aside after washing it. I can easily assemble it from the pieces, as the pieces are large. It is not a delamination where layers separate. I will have to be more careful with huge hollow prints in the future.

I fried a grilled cheese sandwich in butter. I had made the bread the day before. Once the bread started to brown, I added some water to the pan. This hot steam heated the sandwich through and melted the cheese. I then flipped it a few times to dry out any bread that might have gotten wet. I cut it with two cuts across, creating four mini-sandwiches. I had some of my homemade frig pickles with it.

I spent the day watching TV, not my usual Sunday, and ordered Chinese-style food from Happy Panda. I finished the second season of Severance. I can’t share much–no spoilers, but I liked the ending and some interesting conclusions to questions the show brought to the viewer’s mind that were finally answered. Watching two seasons of twelve episodes is a long haul, but it is recommended.

I next tried a movie. The NYT recommended ten movies that folks missed, and I selected Black Bag from the list. It started with a messy dinner party of people arguing, and one even stabbed, but soon, the movie became a British spy movie set in the present day. I enjoy spy movies and books, and this one did not disappoint. While a terrible start, it is worth pushing through—excellent. Available on Peacock.

I was not getting worse, and my colon settled back to near normal. I went to bed normally, but early, leaving the laundry not put away for another day, dishes undone, and a few other messes still in place. I put away lots of leftover delivered food in the fridge. It is unlikely house elves will help clean up, but there is hope.

I read more of Tom Mead’s book. I rose a few times to take my inhaler and some painkillers. That helped me settle down, and soon, I was again on my dream bus, going to forgotten locations with a friendly driver. I think there were spies and Severance stuff. It all fades now.

Thanks for reading.